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Wireless Web Camera Options?

Posted by Cliff on from the we-don-need-no-STEENKING-wires dept.

kevinvee asks: "I am trying to find a suitable wireless web camera for broadcasting video streams from various sites around the university where I work, including buildings currently under construction which can be far from both network and electrical outlets. Besides the x10 packages, however, my search is coming up rather empty. Things we have to consider are the maximum distance from transmitter to receiver; power source, and if battery-powered, the average battery life; video quality; additional necessary hardware and software; outdoor/indoor capabilities; and weather resistance. I'm sure there are also other things to consider which we haven't thought of yet. Has anyone else tackled similar projects? What hardware did you attempt to use and what experiences did you have with it?"

6 of 20 comments (clear)

  1. Axis cam plus Cisco 350 Workgroup Bridge? by Mordant · · Score: 3, Informative

    Should work just fine:

    http://www.axis.com/products/cam_2100/index.htm

    and

    http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/witc/ao35 0a p/prodlit/a350b_ds.htm

    1. Re:Axis cam plus Cisco 350 Workgroup Bridge? by linuxwrangler · · Score: 3, Informative

      Or another linux-powered web-cam: http://www.stardot-tech.com/netcam/index.html. Just add 802.11 and an antenna and you should be fine except for power. Most buildings - even ones under construction - have some power. If not, a deep-discharge RV battery should run one for a long time. Or add a solar panel if you have enough light. I think the stardot is used at the north pole but they have the whole setup rigged to wake up and send a picture via satellite phone periodically to reduce power consumption. The poster did not mention the one BIG consideration: budget. This is an easy problem with sufficient application of $$$.

      --

      ~~~~~~~
      "You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
  2. Dlink Wireless Web Cam no good for this by philosophyandrew · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The main consumer 802.11b wirless netcam, the Dlink DCS-1000W, is unsuited for your task. It DOES work well as an entry-level wireless netcam, but isn't at all ruggidized or set up battery powered or indoor/outdoor operation. (It does, however, accept stanards CCTV lenses, which opens up the possibility of adding a more versatile lens with more iris control and perhaps a zoom. Perhaps it would be possible to together enough casing/power hardware kludges to get it to work. Off the shelf, however, it won't give you what you want.)

    Panasonic has some "prosumer level" wireless netcams that might do the trick, although I don't think that there are any of them that meet all of your requirements.

  3. OT: X10 ads by Violet+Null · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's sad. I read the opener, and the very first thought into my head, the very first one, was "What about X10?"

    Why is this sad? Because the only reason I know about X10 is through their pop up ads(1), which I despise, and in no way wish to support -- yet they're obviously successful. I hate it when reality interferes with me like that.

    (1) Until I started using Mozilla, of course.

  4. Solar power by fm6 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If there's no reliable source of line power, you're going to have to look at solar power. I don't think there's an affordable battery that will keep you cams online for any length of time. Here's somebody else who did that.

  5. minidv cam that streams mpeg4 by akb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The x10 is a piece of trash, what you really want is one of these. 3ccd minidv camera that hasa wireless broadband adapter over which you can stream mpeg4. And it runs Linux.